Most homes will use outdoor wall lights – whether that’s security lighting, a porch light for extra illumination on a dark night, tracker solar lights to show a driveway’s edges or attractive decorative lighting to make the most of a tree or water feature. There are a number of issues to consider, however, before you do invest in outdoor lighting, which relate strongly to safety standards and correct installation.

Picking the right lights

There are a wide range of outdoor lights to choose from and they range widely in style and appearance. There are traditional wall lights based on lantern designs, Mediterranean themed wall lights with warm copper finishes and minimalist, modern shapes made from stainless steel and aluminium. Traditional lanterns will often feature pretty glass stains to achieve a patterned and attractive effect. These decorative lights are ideal for making your house and garden look its best. Security lighting, on the other hand, will be designed to provide strong, bright light and to keep your home safe and free from unwanted visitors.

Safety first

The first rule of outdoor wall lights is that you must only use products that are suitable for the job. Specific outdoor lighting will have thicker insulation, be hard wearing and resistant to rain and the outdoor elements. For this reason, lights designed to be used indoors, won’t be suitable.

Lighting regulations

All electric outdoor lights must be compliant with regulations and be protected by an RCD or residual current device. This will protect people and pets from accidently getting electric shocks if any error occurs. Basically, it works by shutting off electrical supply rapidly if an earth fault is detected, for example by a person or animal touching a live electricity feed. Regulations change regularly and your electrician will need to be aware of the latest standards.

Using a qualified electrician

These regulations are in place for protection and safety and it’s also well worth using a qualified electrician to put your lighting in. They will advise on positioning, safety features, additional considerations and provide a cost estimate for the work. For example, cable routing needs to be considered and this will be either over- or underground. The cable will need to be protected from damage and this may involve a certain amount of work. Switches may be installed outside, or even inside the house, but they will require very strict safety measures and adherence to regulations in order to be compliant.

Making sure you are happy with the work

Ensure that you do understand the work that the electrical contractor is proposing when you’re seeking to install outdoor lighting and get a written quote beforehand. Once you have selected the quote you are happy with, check that the electrician holds the right training and accreditations and ideally that he or she is a member of a professional trade body, for your peace of mind. Ensure that you get certification that shows the work done once it’s completed.